Paste mediteraneene (Mediterranean Pasta)

In acest post al Pastelui, vom avea muuulte mancaruri gustoase. :) Usoare, sanatoase, dar si gustoase!
During this Lent, we are going to cook a LOT of delicious food, albeit light and healthy! :)

Pentru astazi, am pregatit o reteta deosebit de buna. Cum pastele sunt un fel preferat de toata familia noastra, am ales sa pregatesc niste paste mediteraneene...
For today, I have prepared a special recipe, especially tasty. Since pasta is a favourite meal for our family, I have chosen to prepare some mediteranean pasta...

INGREDIENTE:

400 g paste scurte - melci, penne etc. (cochlea, penne etc.)
500 g rosii cherry (cherry tomatoes)
1-2 dovlecei tineri (vegetable young marrows)
1 lingurita de zahar brun (tsp brown sugar)
ulei de masline (olive oil)
1 ceapa rosie (red onion)
1 ardei iute (hot pepper)
5 catei de usturoi (garlic cloves)

Pentru a fierbe pastele, pui o oala cu 4 litri de apa si un pic de sare pe foc si astepti sa dea in clocot, dupa care introduci pastele si amesteci de cateva ori in ele pe parcurs, ca sa nu se prinda (pentru asta, te ajuta si daca torni in apa 2 linguri de ulei inainte de a baga pastele).
In order to boil the pasta, pour 4 litres of water into a pan and a little salt and wait for it to boil, then add the pasta and stir a few times during the boiling so that they do not stick (it would also help if you poured 2 tablespoons of oil into the water before putting the pasta in it).


Legumele trebuie coapte la cuptor: tai ceapa in patru, iar dovlecelul, ardeiul iute si usturoiul le feliezi. Sarezi dupa gust si torni deasupra 3-4 linguri de ulei de masline si lingurita de zahar. Dai totul la cuptorul preincalzit la 200 grade Celsius/gaz 6 pentru 15 minute, apoi scoti tava si pui deasupra rosiile taiate sferturi, apoi mai lasi la cuptor pentru inca 10 minute, pana cand legumele s-au inmuiat.
We cook the vegetables in the oven: cut the onion in four, then slice the marrow, hot pepper and garlic cloves. Add a pinch of salt and the teaspoon of sugar. Put the pan in the preheated oven (200 degrees Celsius) for 15 minutes, then take it out and add the tomatoes cut in quarters and put the pan back in the oven for another 10-15 minutes, until the vegetables become soft.


Cand timpul s-a scurs, se scot legumele, se adauga pastele fierte si scurse si se amesteca usor. Daca aveti, puteti pune deasupra frunze proaspete de busuioc, iar cand nu este post puteti presara si niste parmezan ras. Este o mancare foarte buna atat calda, cat si rece. Pofta buna!
When time is up, pull out the vegetables, add the boiled and drained pasta and mix lightly. You can also put some fresh basil leaves on top of the food. Also, when you don't fast, you can add grated parmesan cheese. Bon appetit!

Clatite cu ciuperci (Mushroom Pancakes)

Aceasta reteta de post este potrivita atat pentru o cina in familie, in zilele de post, cat si pentru a o servi la masa unor musafiri. Sigur vor fi foarte incantati si vor vrea sa o incerce din nou... :)

This could be a fasting recipe, suitable for a family dinner or a dish to serve to your guests. They will surely be pleased and want to try it again!

INGREDIENTE:
INGREDIENTS:

Pentru clatite (The pancakes)
300 g faina (flour)
400 g apa carbogazoasa (sprinkling water)
sare (salt)

Pentru umplutura (The filling)
1 kg ciuperci (mushrooms)
5 rosii (tomatoes)
2 cepe (onions)
1 legatura patrunjel (bunch of parsley)
1 lingurita boia de ardei iute (tsp of chili powder)
sare (salt)

Pentru clatite, turnati treptat apa peste faina, amestecand rapid cu un tel, astfel incat aluatul sa nu faca cocoloase. Nu uitati de sare! Compozitia trebuie sa aiba consistenta unei smantani mai groase. Apoi, cu un polonic, turnati din aluat intr-o tigaie de teflon incinsa, iar cand s-a rumenit pe o parte, o intoarceti cu grija si pe cealalta, dupa care scoateti clatita pe o farfurie...

To make the pancakes, pour water over the flour little by little, mixing thoroughly with a whisk so that the dough will not have lumps. Don't forget about the salt! The dough should feel like a thick cream. Using a ladle, pour a small quantity into a hot pan, wait for it to cook on one side then turn it on the other side. Cook and let sit on a plate.

Umplutura se prepara astfel: curatati ciupercile de pielita si le taiati felii un pic mai groase, sa nu se sfarame la fiert. Rosiile se decojesc, se indeparteaza samburii, si folosim doar pulpa rosiilor, pe care o taiem cubulete. Puneti ceapa, taiata melcisori, la inmuiat in putina apa clocotita cu sare, apoi adaugati feliile de ciuperci si boiaua de ardei. Lasati sa fiarba la foc potrivit pana cand zeama lasata de ciuperci se evapora, apoi adaugati cubuletele de rosii si mai lasati 5 minute preparatul pe foc. La sfarsit, amestecati in compozitie si patrunjelul tocat si umpleti clatitele. Se pot servi caldute, dar si reci. Pofta buna!

For the filling, clean the mushrooms and slice them a little thicker, so that they don't break while boiling. The tomatoes have to be peeled, then take out the seeds, as we will only use the pulp, cut into pieces. Put the chopped onions in boiling salted water, then add the sliced mushrooms and the chili powder. Let simmer until the juice left by the mushrooms evaporates, then add the chopped tomatoes and let sit on the fire for 5 more minutes. At the end, mix in the chopped parsley and fill the pancakes. You can have them warm or even cold. Bon appetit!

Pulpe de pui la gratar cu garnitura de legume (Grilled Chicken Legs with Vegetables)

INGREDIENTE:
1 pachet pulpe superioare (pack of chicken legs)
2 ardei grasi (peppers, preferably one red and one green)
3 rosii mari (large tomatoes)
1 ceapa (onion)
3 catei usturoi (cloves of garlic)
ulei (oil)
sare (salt)

Pulpele se asaza pe gratar (de care aveti, fie din cel care se da la cuptor fie pe ochiul aragazului) dupa ce sa sareaza, iar in timp ele ce se gatesc, puteti prepara garnitura de legume.
Place the chicken legs on the grill (whichever kind you have) and, while they are cooking, you can prepare the side dish.

Ceapa se taie pestisori si se inabusa in cateva linguri de apa clocotita, cu o lingurita de sare. Pana cand aceasta devine transparenta, aveti timp sa curatati si sa taiati celelalte ingrediente: ardeii se curata de cotor si se taie fasii, iar rosiile se curata de piele si se feliaza. Se adauga legumele astfel taiate peste ceapa, impreuna cu usturoiul taiat rondele si un praf de boia de ardei iute, si se lasa sa fiarba inabusit, la foc mediu spre mic, pana se inmoaie si ardeii. Mancarica ar trebui sa fie gata cam in acelasi timp cu carnea, numai bine ca sa le gustati impreuna si sa se combine atat de reusit gusturile lor... Pofta buna!
The onion is largely chopped and then soften it in boiling water, adding a teaspoon of salt. Whilewaiting for it to become transparent, you have enough time to prepare the other ingredients: cut the pepper into strips, then peel the tomatoes and slice them. Add the vegetables over the onion, together with the finely sliced garlic and a pinch of chili powder, and let them simmer until the peppers are softened. This side dish should be ready just in time to have it with the grilled chicken legs, bonding their tastes in a delightful way... Bon appetit!

Salata de ton cu paste (Tuna Pasta Salad)

Aceasta salata este foarte buna in zilele de vara, deoarece este racoroasa, insa este binevenita si in zilele de post, cand este dezlegare la peste.
This salad is suitable for the hot Summer days, as it is very cooling, but it is also welcome in the fasting days, when we are allowed to have fish.

INGREDIENTE:
400g paste (pasta)
2 cutii conserva de ton in ulei (oil tuna cans)
1 ardei gras rosu (red pepper)
1 cutie de porumb dulce (can of sweet corn)
300g masline - feliate sau intregi (olives - sliced or whole)
300g rosii (tomatoes)
5 fire ceapa verde (leek stalks)
ulei de masline (olive oil)
1 lamaie (lemon)

Se fierb pastele in apa cu sare, dupa indicatiile de pe cutie. Eu am ales "fundite", insa puteti folosi orice alta forma va place (melcisori, penne etc.). Pana acestea fierb, puteti amesteca restul ingredientelor. Scurgeti cutia de porumb si puneti boabele intr-un bol incapator, apoi adaugati maslinele, ceapa taiata rondele (e foarte bun si cu ceapa rosii taiata julien), rosiile feliate (eu am folosit rosii cherry, pe care le-am taiat in jumatati), ardeiul rosu taiat fasii, tonul conservat si bine scurs.
Boil the pasta in salted water, as specified on the package. You can use any shape of pasta you like (penne, cochlea etc.). Until it is boiled, you can mix the rest of the ingredients. Drain the corn can and put the corn seeds in a large bowl, then add the olives, sliced leek stalks (you can also use sliced red onions), sliced tomatoes (I used cherry tomatoes, cut in halves), red pepper cut into stripes, the tuna can (well drained).

Dupa ce pastele au fiert, le scurgeti intr-o sita si le treceti pe sub jet de apa rece, apoi le adaugati in vasul cu celelalte ingrediente si amestecati. Se condimenteaza cu un pic de sare, daca mai e nevoie, se stoarce lamaia deasupra salatei (sau taiati 2 castraveciori murati), iar la urma puteti adauga si 2-3 linguri de ulei de masline. Salata este si mai buna daca, inainte de a fi adusa la masa, a stat cel putin doua ore la frigider, ca sa se intrepatrunda aromele...
After the pasta has boiled, pass it under cold water and drain it well, then add it to the other ingredients. Mix. You can season using a pinch of salt, if needed, then squeeze the juice out of a lemon and into the salad (or slice two pickled cucumbers). Then you can add 2-3 tablespoons olive oil. The salad is even better if you refrigerate it for a couple of hours before bringing it to the table, so that the aromas blend well.

Salata cu sos de iaurt (Salad with Yogurt Sauce)

Salatele sunt un fel delicios de mancare, usor si rapid de preparat, dar si atat de sanatoase... In familia mea, mai ales vara, acestea sunt preferate seara in locul altor feluri de mancare. Daca vreti sa preparati o astfel de salata, iata de ce aveti nevoie:
Salads are delicious. Besides, they are easy to make and so, so healthy... In our household, this is a favourite during Summer days, especially at dinner time. If you decide to have such a salad, here is what you need:

INGREDIENTE:
1/2 castravete de sera sau 3-4 castraveti de gradina (1/2 a long cucumber or 3-4 small ones)
5 rosii (tomatoes)
100g telemea de capra (goat cheese)
100g masline (olives)
200g iaurt (yogurt)
1 legatura mica de marar (bunch of dill)
1 legatura ceapa verde (bunch of leek stalks)

Taiati legumele felii, iar telemeaua cubulete, apoi adaugati maslinele si ceapa tocata; dupa gust, puteti sa puneti si ardei gras. Nu e nevoie sa adaugati sare, telemeaua are destula, altfel riscati sa aveti o mancare foarte sarata. Se face un sos din iaurt si mararul tocat fin, care se pune peste salata. Amestecati si savurati! :)
Slice the vegetables and dice the cheese, then add the olives and the chopped onion/leek; if you like, you can add pepper. There's no need to add salt, as the goat cheese is pretty salty; otherwise, you end up with a very salty dish. Make a sauce mixing the yogurt and the finely chopped dill and add it to the salad. Stir and enjoy! :)